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Drafting Strategy - Need vs Best Player Available

Every time anyone talks about a draft, the first thing they look at is team needs. And then build out the strategy from there. And it makes sense because you don't want a logjam of great players at a certain position. No sense in drafting Pouncey's replacement in the 1st round for example.

But that kinda flies in the face of taking the Best Player Available.

How should a team approach this? If the BPA doesn't intersect with a team need, what should they do? Take the next person they need? Take the BPA? Take the BPA and trade him? Trade out of the pick?

It seems like a very complex decision. And I wonder how Colbert handles it. I think in general, we as fans get a little blinded by need. We want the best NT, ILB, FS, SS, WR, RB, OT, OG, TE we can find to replace whoever we don't particularly like. And maybe that's why we have better success in round 1 and less as the draft goes on. Because in rounds 2, 3, 4, etc we may shy away from a position we've already selected and the options dwindle and need becomes more significant as each round passes by.

I'm not even sure Colbert weights BPA as much as the rounds pass. Each round, BPA loses some weight in the decision, and need becomes more prevalent. And a little desperation kicks in as our choices of need narrows.

Would the Steelers be better served solving need through FA and purely getting the best players they can at any position in the draft. I think that's the goal, just not sure it works perfectly.

The Steelers seem to rule out certain positions in round 1...normally, QB...

Then, they seem to compile a draft board for round one with players they feel are "special"...how that is determined, I'm not sure...probably by looking at need and draft position...the Steelers won't draft a QB at #17...nor will they overdraft a player at a position of need...if there is no TE deemed worthy of a #17 pick available, they won't take one, despite Heath Miller's injury...

Since the Steelers pick at 17 this upcoming draft, I would imagine that the "special" list would be composed of approximately a dozen players...if any of those players happen to fall to 17, they will pick that player...if multiple "special" players remain, they will select the one who plays the position of greatest need...

It is a tough process and that is why they get paid the big bucks....and the good ones are in demand. I think the way Colbert does it is he evaluates the importance of each need and works from there. You also have immediate needs and future needs - based on your veterans who are still contributing but can't for much longer.

The problem this year is that there are so many more question marks than I can remember for at least 20 or so years. You have so many aging starters who are both expensive and on the decline, many of whom are coming off injury. How high a priority do you put on OT, OLB, SS, CB, WR, FS, ILB, DE, NT, OG?

Each of these positions has an aging starter who may or may not be ready to either retire or contribute another year. Some have unproven replacements in place, others have no satisfactory replacement in sight. On top of that, there are cap considerations. We should easily be able to work our way under the cap, but every time we restructure it just ties us to that player a little stronger and longer. You don't want to make a mistake like that with another Willie Colon.

It is a tough process and that is why they get paid the big bucks....and the good ones are in demand. I think the way Colbert does it is he evaluates the importance of each need and works from there. You also have immediate needs and future needs - based on your veterans who are still contributing but can't for much longer.

The problem this year is that there are so many more question marks than I can remember for at least 20 or so years. You have so many aging starters who are both expensive and on the decline, many of whom are coming off injury. How high a priority do you put on OT, OLB, SS, CB, WR, FS, ILB, DE, NT, OG?

Each of these positions has an aging starter who may or may not be ready to either retire or contribute another year. Some have unproven replacements in place, others have no satisfactory replacement in sight. On top of that, there are cap considerations. We should easily be able to work our way under the cap, but every time we restructure it just ties us to that player a little stronger and longer. You don't want to make a mistake like that with another Willie Colon.

This will be a tough off season for the Steelers.

Well said. The Steelers are at a crossroads. They are not in cap hell yet, but close. They need to spend their FA and RFA dollars very wisely while trimming several current roster players. Further, they need to be careful when choosing who they restructure (in order to break this cycle). Then, they will need to draft players and sign UDFAs to plug the many holes we have left. Without sound strategy, shrewd choices, and a little good fortune, this easily could be a team that misses the playoffs again next year or for the next few years.

Last edited by steelblood; 01-08-2013 at 12:20 PM.

Even if Bill Belichick was getting an atomic wedgie, his face would look exactly the same.

Well said. The Steelers are at a crossroads. They are not in cap hell yet, but close. They need to spend their FA and RFA dollars very wisely while trimming several current roster players. Further, they need to be careful when choosing who they restructure (in order to break this cycle). Then, they will need to draft players and sign UDFAs to plug the many holes we have left. Without sound strategy, shrewd choices, and a little good fortune, this easily could be a team that misses the playoffs again next year or for the next few years.

On the other hand, this is a team that went 8-8 while losing 5 games by 3 points or less...the team is not necessarily far from competing in the playoffs and can get back there with some minor adjustments...

On the other hand, this is a team that went 8-8 while losing 5 games by 3 points or less...the team is not necessarily far from competing in the playoffs and can get back there with some minor adjustments...

At the same time, half of our wins were by 4 points or less. We weren't too many more mistakes from being 4-12.

I'm at a loss with this team. The defense is ranked #1 but has been horrible with take-aways and game-changing plays. The offense has potential super stars on it and was hindered by changing systems, terrible mental mistakes and another year of shuffling the line due to multiple injuries and Ben going down with injury.

On the other hand, this is a team that went 8-8 while losing 5 games by 3 points or less...the team is not necessarily far from competing in the playoffs and can get back there with some minor adjustments...

That depends. You assume that they are at a plateau on the performance curve. One could make the case they are starting on a downward slope. I think 2013 will determine their trajectory.

IMO this is the time to make radical changes and suffer some pain for a year or two to get a roster in place that can win one or a couple of championships before Ben's career ends. The reality is that we are treading water with aging stars and no real replacements available.

That depends. You assume that they are at a plateau on the performance curve. One could make the case they are starting on a downward slope. I think 2013 will determine their trajectory.

Kind of. I am assuming that there is a significant delta between what the performance curve should have been versus the results...

I don't believe that the Steelers lack the talent to compete..I believe that mistakes and mental errors, things that have nothing to do with talent or ability, made the difference between potential performance and actual results...